2– The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'When two people become friends or accompany each other, the one with the greater reward and the most beloved in Allah’s eyes is the one who is the most gentle towards his companion.’
[al-Kafi, p. 120, no. 15]

9– The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Verily this religion is firm so penetrate into it gently, and do not arouse aversion for Allah's worship in His servants that they may become like shattered riders who have neither gotten further in their travel nor have any drive left to continue.’
[al-Kafi, p. 86, no. 1]

10– Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Cajole your soul tactfully to worship, and be gentle with it and do not force it. Make allowances for both its weariness and its activity, except for the daily obligations that are incumbent upon it, for it must fulfil them and undertake them at their prescribed times.’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 69]

14– Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said, 'The last piece of advice that al-Khiar* gave to Prophet Moses (AS) was: ‘When a person is lenient towards someone in this world, Allah will be lenient with him on the Day of Resurrection.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 73, p. 386, no. 6]

16– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'If you wish to be honoured
[by people] be lenient
[towards them], and if you wish to be humiliated then be rough.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 269, no. 109]

Translator's Note: The word rifq in Arabic has no exact English equivalent, and can be translated with two or three English words depending on the context it is used in. It denotes 'leniency', 'gentleness' or 'friendliness’ when used to depict a trait or virtue, when used to describe one's attitude towards people or when used to describe Allah's leniency towards His creatures, or it can mean 'moderation' when used in an economic or practical context. In the text it has been translated differently in its different contexts in order to best convey the meaning of the traditions, though the title has been kept as 'leniency' because of its most general implication.

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* Khiar: Qur’anic prophet whose equivalent in the biblical tradition in not known (ed.)